On the Market: June 2013

Ancram, New York

STATS
3 BEDROOMS
3 BATHS
4,100 SQ. FT.
$4.25 MILLION

PEDIGREE: Perched on a Hudson Valley hilltop, this arresting 2006 house was conceived by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in collaboration with the Swiss firm HHF Architects. The structure—Ai’s only residential project in the U.S.—is composed of four rectilinear volumes, each clad in aluminum and pierced by broad planes of glass.

Photo courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

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Ancram, New York

PROPERTY VALUES:Sozo Landscape Design added hundreds of trees to the 37.5-acre spread, which features a saltwater pool and a Y-shaped guesthouse sheathed in rusted steel.

Photo courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

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Ancram, New York

TALKING POINT: The interiors, designed to showcase the original owners’ museum-quality art collection, boast expansive walls to accommodate large paintings.

North Haven, Maine

STATS
10 BEDROOMS
6 BATHS
2 HALF BATHS
3,350 SQ. FT.
$895,000

PEDIGREE: This Shingle Style residence ranks among the most prominent addresses on the picturesque island of North Haven, in the heart of Penobscot Bay. Built in the mid-19th century and previously a sardine cannery, the waterfront building now comprises three adjoining homes, serving as a summer compound for an extended family. Recently renovated, it is on the market for the first time in more than 60 years.

Photo courtesy of LandVest

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North Haven, Maine

PROPERTY VALUES: Measuring less than a quarter of an acre, the plot enjoys vistas of passing boats and the neighboring isle of Vinalhaven.

Photo courtesy of LandVest

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North Haven, Maine

TALKING POINT: Adjacent to the town’s yacht club, the pristine house may not be for those seeking privacy.

Arezzo, Italy

STATS
7 BEDROOMS
7 BATHS
6,700 SQ. FT.
$4.4 MILLION

PEDIGREE: Dating from the 17th century, this Tuscan farmhouse has been lovingly restored by its current owner, local antiques dealer and decorator Nicoletta Lebole. The tranquil manor exudes rustic charm, with wood-beamed ceilings, brick archways, and ceramic-tile floors.

Photo: Agenzia Romolini Immobiliare

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Arezzo, Italy

PROPERTY VALUES: Highlighted by scenic views of nearby vineyards and surrounding hills, the 2.5-acre grounds include a three-bedroom guesthouse, a pool, and two gazebos, one of which is equipped with a traditional outdoor bread oven.

Arezzo, Italy

Cincinnati, Ohio

STATS
3 BEDROOMS
2 BATHS
2,500 SQ. FT.
$1.8 MILLION

PEDIGREE: In 1954 car dealer Gerald B. Tonkens enlisted Frank Lloyd Wright to design this single-story dwelling, a prime example of the architect’s Usonian Automatic homes. Such structures, intended for average American families, were built of inexpensive molded-concrete blocks. (Wright envisioned owners assembling the abodes themselves, though most used contractors.) This iteration’s austere construction has been spruced up with luxe touches like mahogany wall panels and gilded ceilings.

Photo: Barry Vangrov Photography

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Cincinnati, Ohio

PROPERTY VALUES: Formerly a working farm, the four-acre parcel contains a historic cottage that has been converted into a one-bedroom guest lodge.

Photo: Barry Vangrov Photography

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Cincinnati, Ohio

TALKING POINT: Much of the existing furniture was designed by Wright specifically for the building and can be purchased at an additional cost.

Palm Springs, California

STATS
6 BEDROOMS
10 BATHS
3 HALF BATHS
23,300 SQ. FT.
$50 MILLION

PEDIGREE: Distinguished by its curvaceous profile and dramatic overhangs, this futuristic house was created by architect John Lautner for comedian Bob Hope in 1973. Although it has been compared to a UFO and a mushroom, the sprawling concrete edifice was in fact meant to resemble a volcano, with a wide circular opening punctuating the copper-clad roof. The residence stands as one of the Coachella Valley’s most iconic—and expensive—homes.

Photo: Brian Thomas Jones

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Palm Springs, California

PROPERTY VALUES: The 4.65 acres, set in the private Southridge community, encompass two pools (one indoor and one outdoor), a pond, a tennis court, and a putting green.

Photo: Brian Thomas Jones

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Palm Springs, California

TALKING POINT: Lautner later distanced himself from the project, after Hope’s wife, Dolores, commissioned alterations to the interiors.